Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[2harleys]

Went to the "spring fling" with 7 friends last Saturday at Greeley H.D. in northern Colorado. One of those friends found a used bike he just had to have (2008 Heritage Softail special Anniversay edition). Long story short ---  he takes the bike for a test ride. His wife goes with salesman to do paper work and start loan process while he is riding. They take his trade in to the shop to be evaluated. When he comes back from the test ride, he heads into the store to complete paper work, and asks us to look over the bike to see if we could find any problems. I am sitting on the bike listening to it run while one of our other friends is on his knees looking under the bike. Another saleman comes up and says  ---  excuse me, but I need to take this bike. He says he has another person intersted in buying the bike and wanted to take a test ride. I said, say what  ---  we are looking at the bike and our buddy John is inside writing up a contract, and his bike is in your shop being evaluated for a trade. He asked us if their was any "money" on the bike. We told him that no "money" was on the bike yet as John just got off the bike less than 5 minutes ago, but since his trade was in their shop --  that should "technically" be "money" on the bike. The salesman said that did not count as "money" on the bike and said he was sending his customer on a ride. I stood in front of the bike and said he was not leaving on the bike that John was writing a contract on as we were speaking. The salesman goes into the store and soon here comes the store manager. We explained what was transpiring. Then he asks  ---  is there "money" on the bike?  We just went over this with your salesman, and repeated everyting to him. The manager said that until someone wrote a check, the bike belonged to the store, and anyone that wanted to ride it, could ride it. He then sends the rider on his test ride. We all expressed our feelings on that statement, as I am sure any of you would have. I told him that my 2010 SEUC was bought at his store and all of us have spent a lot of money in that store. I told Him if I were John, I would tell you to stuff that bike so far up your  a$$ that your eyeballs would be popping out. We also explained that his policies just cost him a minimun of one bike sale and at least 8 customers. My wife has been selling cars and trucks since 1983. She told me when she has a customer on a vehicle  --  no one leaves with that vehicle until her deal is complete or terminated. The manager could not tell me what would happen if John wrote a check and the other rider wrote a check at the same time. I guess at that point you start an auction on the showroom floor. This is absolutely mind boggling to me, how you can run a dealership like this and stay in business. The second thing that blows my mind, is test riding bikes at this dealership. You have to follow a salesman on another bike that is wearing an orange vest that says "test rider" on the front and back. Are we in grade school here, or is this some kind of Disneyland ride?  They still have a 2008 Softial for sale if anyone is interested.

[semperfi81]

It seems a lot of dealerships would sell their souls for a buck

[VaEagle]

I agree, that is a messed up way to sell bikes. Just look at another scenario, what if while you were signing the paperwork the second test rider crashed the bike you just signed for?
I guess the test ride procedure of following a salesman is to help prevent theft or abusive riding by the customer?

[Mano]

I agree, that is a messed up way to sell bikes. Just look at another scenario, what if while you were signing the paperwork the second test rider crashed the bike you just signed for?I guess the test ride procedure of following a salesman is to help prevent theft or abusive riding by the customer?

This is what i was thinking as i was reading the thread......bottom line is i would have walked away and bought my friends a beer.

[SEgle]

Same thing happened to me a year or so ago, with a 4 x 4 at Toyota dealer. We had done the test drive and were negotiating price inside the dealer ship, after our car had been valued. when someone else was test drove the car came back and said they would buy it.We wern't real impressed, kinda left a sour taste. Pretty poor form in my book.

So it seems it happens every where then

[Cvostu]

Dealers like that just come and go   Try that place this time next year and they most likely won't be there  now is the time more than ever to be nice to your customers. When we do someone right- no one remembers,,, do someone wrong- no one forgets.  That's just life. 

[Gecko]

I would have waited until the other guy got back, found out if he was going to buy it, and if not make the dealer go through every hoop I could come up with, negotiate a trade-in price, talk about service plans, an accessory package, financing, everything but the signature on the dotted line.  Then have the wife say she doesn't like the color and walk out.

[grc]

Same thing happened to me a year or so ago, with a 4 x 4 at Toyota dealer. We had done the test drive and were negotiating price inside the dealer ship, after our car had been valued. when someone else was test drove the car came back and said they would buy it.We wern't real impressed, kinda left a sour taste. Pretty poor form in my book.

So it seems it happens every where then

Not necessarily everywhere.  I've known salespersons to pocket the keys after a test drive to keep just such a thing from happening.  If the customer decides to walk, the vehicle goes back to it's place on the lot and the keys go back into the key safe or on the key board, whichever way the dealership handles keys.  In a place with more than one salesperson, they don't want to lose the commission to another salesperson (obviously).  In a small shop where the salesperson is a salaried member of the family, I could see doing something like what happened to 2harley's.  There are a lot of really sorry people in the business, unfortunately.  Don't forget, most of the dealerships out there were also in business when they could easily get away with holding up customers for extra profits and even holding bidding wars.  Some of those folks haven't figured out that times have changed.  They need to be educated, and the best way we can help facilitate that education is by refusing to spend even a nickel in such places.


Jerry

[cvobiker]

I hope your friend told the dealer to shove it. Also, you point out the city, state but I think this dealer merrits "word of mouth" advertising   and you should point out dealer name on this thread.  

[2harleys]

I hope your friend told the dealer to shove it. Also, you point out the city, state but I think this dealer merrits "word of mouth" advertising   and you should point out dealer name on this thread.  

Dealer was mentioned in posting.  Greeley H.D. ---- it is also known as Wildwest Motorsports which also sells Honda and Yamaha. And yes he told dealer to shove it.

[2harleys]

Not necessarily everywhere.  I've known salespersons to pocket the keys after a test drive to keep just such a thing from happening.  If the customer decides to walk, the vehicle goes back to it's place on the lot and the keys go back into the key safe or on the key board, whichever way the dealership handles keys.  In a place with more than one salesperson, they don't want to lose the commission to another salesperson (obviously).  In a small shop where the salesperson is a salaried member of the family, I could see doing something like what happened to 2harley's.  There are a lot of really sorry people in the business, unfortunately.  Don't forget, most of the dealerships out there were also in business when they could easily get away with holding up customers for extra profits and even holding bidding wars.  Some of those folks haven't figured out that times have changed.  They need to be educated, and the best way we can help facilitate that education is by refusing to spend even a nickel in such places.


Jerry

I asked the salesman why they did not do this, as that is what my wife does in the auto business.  The clown answered by saying  --  even if you keep the key to a Harley  --  the bike can still be started and ridden. WOW -- I guess he did not know that the switch can be turned to the left and the forks can be locked?  He must be used to selling the Hondas and Yamahas on the other side of the building??

[Boatman]

Sad dealer story.  I would have walked, too many good bikes for sale.

[StrokedRider]

Nothing chaps my Azz more than a money grubbing, four flushing, stick it in your face and walk if you don't like it, I AM THE GAME, someone else will buy it attitude. I will drive, fly, walk or crawl to another dealer before i would do ANY bussiness with someone that treats me that way. SORRY you have such a place to have had to deal with.

[Master Guns]

There was a 2008 Heritage Softtail Anniversay Edition (black and copper) sitting at High Country in Frederick this past weekend.  This bike was previously owned by my wife and was very well taken care of.  She traded it in for a Limited.  If you and/or your friend go there, ask for Kim and tell her I sent you.  We have bought three bikes from her. 

[2harleys]

There was a 2008 Heritage Softtail Anniversay Edition (black and copper) sitting at High Country in Frederick this past weekend.  This bike was previously owned by my wife and was very well taken care of.  She traded it in for a Limited.  If you and/or your friend go there, ask for Kim and tell her I sent you.  We have bought three bikes from her. 

I have been there 100 times and I do know Kim.  I will pass the word to my buddy tonight   Thanks for the heads up.  We were going to go to High Country but we got side tracked in Greeley.